Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

Russell Baze smiles after receiving an award for breaking the all-time wins record for a jockey.

Trainer Mark Glatt was watching the race from Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif., while another trainer gave Baze a leg up on his history-making ride.

“We’re going down in history, although he did all the work,” Glatt said by phone. “We’re both from the Northwest, we go back a long way. It’s really neat to be part of this.”

Baze and Butterfly Belle were well back in the early going of the 5-furlong sprint. But the 4-year-old filly accelerated in the stretch, and overtook her competition. Baze patted her neck as she galloped out past the finish line.

“This is the race and a sterling career becomes gilt-edged,” track announcer Michael Wrona intoned as Baze charged down the stretch to win by 2¼ lengths.

Wrona also had the call on Pincay’s record-setting race at Hollywood Park. Butterfly Belle broke a 10-race losing streak and paid $5.60 to win the $12,500 claiming race.

The record is the crowning achievement of a career that began with Baze’s first winner in 1974 at Yakima Meadows, Wash., riding a horse trained by his father. Butterfly Belle was bred in Washington state.

Baze has spent the majority of his career in the Bay Area, having tried the ultra-competitive Southern California circuit for three years in the late 1980s with little success.

He has ridden in just two Kentucky Derbies 10 years apart, and is 0-for-3 in the Breeders’ Cup.

“I gladly would’ve been a big fish in a big pond,” he said about his brief stint in the big time. “I’m still available if someone wants to give me more chances.”

Baze is not the legendary rider that Shoemaker, Pincay and Longden were, but he’s respected for his dedication and competitive desire.

“Russell is a great rider and he works very hard,” Pincay told the fans. “It takes a lot of ability and dedication to win that many races.”

Pincay retired three years ago at 56 after a neck injury.

“I doubt I’m going to make it that long, but four or five years is not a stretch,” said Baze, whose stated goal is to reach 10,000, then go for 11,000.

“You’ve got to be able to get up and do it every day. I’ve been extremely blessed that I’ve got a strong constitution. I’ve been able to recover from whatever injuries and illnesses I’ve had.”

Baze is the dominant rider in the Bay Area, leaving other jockeys scrambling to get mounts that routinely fall to him simply because of reputation. He has won 36 riding titles at Bay Meadows, the track where Seabiscuit ran.

“Just keep doing what you’re doing, but not too much longer because we need to make a living, too,” said Joey Castro, speaking on behalf of the Bay Meadows jockey colony.

The track presented Baze and his wife, Tami, with a European vacation.

Baze’s only son, Gable, missed three days’ of school and his three grown daughters missed work waiting for their father to make history.

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Patrick Mcdermott / Getty Images

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